Lady Tigers Sweep Southeast and Pine Bluffs

Posted: Thursday, Jan 10th, 2013Cory Griffith/Contributing Writer

Photos/Barb DeGering

The Lusk girls took a big step last weekend with a pair of conference wins to open the new year. Friday they earned their first win at Yoder in ten years, before pulling away from Pine Bluffs Saturday to improve to 3-1 in conference play.

The Lady Tigers turned the ball over a dozen times in the first period against Southeast but were able to stay close to the preseason conference favorites. While Lusk was quite careless with the ball, the Lady Cyclones did not capitalize and led just 6-4. Sami Starkey, Kaylee Seeds and Hailey Bruegger each hit layups in sparking NCHS to a 17-8 lead approaching halftime before a late SE layup cut the score to 17-10 at the break.

Lusk opened up a ten point lead midway through the third, but like many other times over the years the home team clawed their way back into the game. A 6-0 run cut the lead to 22-18 at the close of three quarters and soon thereafter the game was tied at 22. Southeast led for most of the final period but when Seeds hit both free throws with 27 seconds left the lead was retaken by the Lady Tigers. Southeast had two chances to set up a game winning shot but was denied both times. Seeds missed the front of a one and one but with just two seconds left, the Lady Cyclones were unable to get another shot off. Lusk won 31-30 and for the first time in Southeastís gym since assistant coach Lacey Hauf was a senior in 2003.

Saturday the Lady Hornets visited and while NCHS took better care of the ball, the offense wasnít getting easy baskets. Brueggerís three pointer to close the first quarter gave the Lady Tigers a 9-6 advantage. The teams played close until NCHS scored five points in the final 11 seconds. Amy Bergstrom nailed a triple, followed by a Dockery steal and dish to Seeds for an easy layup and 20-14 halftime lead.

The defense clamped down in the third as head coach Deb Murray shuffled nine players off and on the court in an attempt to wear down the small PB roster. It worked well and back to back jumpers by Hailey and Jessica Bruegger, and a triple from Dockery spurted the Lady Tigers out to a 35-21 lead going into the final quarter. The visitors tried to catch up but to no avail as the Lusk girls finished the first round of conference games above water by the 42-29 final score.

The JV won both of their games also. The first was by a 31-28 overtime score in Yoder as Bergstrom hit a last second shot to send the game into the extra session. Abbey Larson led with 15 points while J. Bruegger added nine and KaciJo Skrukrud grabbed seven rebounds. The defeated Pine Bluffs in two quarters of action by a 22-13 score. Lexi Blackburn led with eight points and J. Bruegger added six.

This week Wyopreps.comís 1A second ranked Lingle-Ft. Laramie visits Tiger Gym Friday for games at 4 and 5:30 p.m. On Saturday the 8-4 Lady Tigers travel to Saratoga for games at 12:30 and 2 p.m. while the C squad goes to Gillette for a tournament.